South Australia 225 and 406 beat Tasmania 332 and 106 (Rainbird 33, Mennie 4-21, Worrall 4-33) by 193 runs
Scorecard
File photo – Joe Mennie picked up nine wickets in his first match back from a serious head injury © Getty Images
Joe Mennie and Daniel Worrall led South Australia’s formidable pace attack in slicing through Tasmania on the final day in Hobart to give the Redbacks a good chance of reaching the Sheffield Shield final. South Australia’s 193-run win lifted them to second on the Shield table, but New South Wales could still jump ahead of the Redbacks if they successfully chase down their target of 403 on the final day in Perth.
Tasmania had started the fourth day needing 300 to win, but in a stunning top-order collapse they lost they went from 0 for 18 to 4 for 18 in the space of 10 deliveries. Chadd Sayers picked up two of those wickets and Mennie claimed the other two, and when Mennie also bowled Beau Webster the Tigers had plummeted to 5 for 23.
The wickets just keep falling, with none of Tasmania’s top six reaching double figures. Only some late fight from Tim Paine (26) and Sam Rainbird, the No.10 who top scored with 33, lifted Tasmania above 100. Worrall cut through the tail to finish with 4 for 33, while Mennie ended up with 4 for 21 and match figures of 9 for 88 in his first match back from a serious head injury suffered before Christmas.
South Australia’s win ended Western Australia’s slim chances of making the final, while Queensland and Tasmania were already out of the mix. Victoria will host the decider in Alice Springs, against either South Australia or New South Wales.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo